Grommet cover assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a grommet cover assembly for selectively substantially blocking view of at least one opening in a planar member surface. The assembly comprises a mounting coupler mounted to the planar member surface proximate the first opening and a cover. The cover includes a flat cover member and a cover coupler, wherein the cover member includes at least one supporting leg. The cover coupler links to the mounting coupler to provide a hinged axis the cover member is rotated around. Thus, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the opening is blocked from view. Methods of use and assembly are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to table grommet covers and more specifically to a hinged grommet door.

Devices for passing a flexible cord such as a telephone cord or computer cable through one or more elements such as a desk top, a piece of furniture, a wall or other type of installation are known. Unfortunately, known devices of this type have one or more shortcomings. For instance, many known grommet covers can be complex, expensive and difficult to use. Further, many known grommet covers are difficult and costly to manufacture and install. Further still, many known grommet covers must be designed and dimensioned to fit a specific grommet opening. In many cases, at least a portion of a grommet cover is designed to fit within a grommet opening so that if there are ten openings of various dimensions, ten different grommet cover configurations are required. Thus, the inflexible design of many known grommet covers represents a long-standing problem in the field.

Many known grommet covers are also aesthetically objectionable. For example, in many cases a grommet cover assumes a half-cocked position when a cable or wire is accommodated through a grommet opening. In these cases, the grommet cover does not fully shut over the cable/wire, causing the cover and cable/wire to appear relatively sloppy. Further, in many such cases, when a grommet cover is half-cocked, a person can see through the opening to other components below a top member forming the opening.

Therefore, a need exists for a grommet cover assembly that is easy and efficient to use, that is easy to manufacture and install, and that can be used to cover many differently dimensioned grommet openings. It would also be advantageous if a grommet assembly met the above objectives and was aesthetically pleasing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first version, the present invention provides an assembly for substantially blocking view of at least one opening in the surface of a planar member (such as a furniture top member and a wall member) surface. The assembly comprises a mounting coupler mounted to the planar surface proximate the first opening and a cover. The cover comprises a flat cover member and a cover coupler. The cover member has first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge. A portion of the first surface proximate the lateral edge is a peripheral surface. The cover coupler extends from the peripheral surface of the cover member. The cover coupler is linkable to the mounting coupler to support the cover member adjacent the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the planar member. When the cover member is adjacent the opening, the peripheral surface along the entire lateral edge of the cover member is spaced apart from and faces the surrounding surface. Thus, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the peripheral surface is spaced apart from and faces the surrounding surface.

The space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one eighth of an inch and one inch. The portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes between one sixteenth inch and one inch ore more of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.

The mounting coupler includes at least a first hinge member linkable to at least a second hinge member on the cover coupler. When the hinge members are linked, the cover member is rotatable about a hinge axis between a closed position, wherein the cover member is adjacent and substantially blocking view of the opening, and an open position, wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the planar member and the opening can be accessed. The second hinge member of the cover coupler is releasable from the first hinge member of the mounting coupler.

In an alternate version, the first hinge member includes a first retainer feature and the second hinge member includes a second retainer feature. When the cover member is in the open position, the first and second retainer features cooperate to retain the cover member in the open position. The first and second retainer features comprise a rib and a recess.

In an alternate version, the mounting coupler includes at least two first hinge members that cooperate with at least two second hinge members on the cover coupler. The hinge members of the cover member are positioned on the lateral edge, which includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends between first and second straight edge ends. Thus, the two second hinge members extend from the peripheral surface adjacent the first straight edge and the two second hinge members are spaced away from the first and second straight end edges. The hinge members facilitate rotation of the cover member between open and closed positions. The two hinge members of both the cover coupler and mounting coupler are separated by a space.

The lateral edge of the grommet cover assembly includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends between first and second straight edge ends. The second hinge member extends from the peripheral surface adjacent the first straight edge. The second hinge member is spaced away from the first and second straight end edges.

The mounting coupler may be mounted to the planar surface by either one of adhesive and/or screws and/or other mechanical devices.

The cover also may comprise at least one supporting leg member that extends from the peripheral surface of the cover member to a distal end. Thus, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the distal end of the supporting leg contacts the surrounding surface of the planar member adjacent the opening. The support members are positioned on the distal end of the cover. However, in alternate versions, the cover member may not have any supporting leg members.

The cover member may be square, rectangular, circular, oval, triangular or polygonal in shape.

In an alternate version, the present invention provides an assembly for substantially blocking view of an opening in a furniture member having a substantially flat surface such as a table top member. The assembly comprises a cover and a mounting coupler mounted to the surface of the furniture member proximate the opening. The cover includes a flat cover member and a cover coupler, with the cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge. A portion of the first surface proximate the lateral edge is a peripheral surface, and the cover coupler, extending from the peripheral surface, may be linkable to the mounting coupler. Thus, the coupler supports the cover member adjacent the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the planar member. Therefore, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the peripheral surface faces the surrounding surface.

When the cover member is adjacent the opening, the peripheral surface faces and is spaced apart from the surrounding surface, thus forming a space for cable to pass between the first surface of the cover member and the first surface of the furniture member. The space rages between one eighth of an inch and includes at least one sixteenth to one quarter of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.

The mounting and cover couplers comprise complimentary first and second hinge members, thereby facilitating rotation of the cover member between open and closed positions.

In an alternative version, the present invention provides a cover assembly for substantially blocking view of an opening in a furniture member having a substantially flat surface. The cover assembly comprises a coupler and a flat cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge. The coupler is linked to and extends from the first surface of the cover member. Once linked, the cover member is supported over the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the furniture member with the cover assembly located completely outside the opening. The coupler is adhered to the surface of the furniture member.

The coupler offsets the cover member from the furniture member so that a space exists between the first surface of the cover member and the first surface of the furniture member.

The cover assembly also comprises a mounting coupler linkable to the first surface of the furniture member, wherein the cover coupler extends from the cover member and is linkable to the mounting coupler. The mounting and cover couplers include complimentary first and second hinge members that facilitate rotation of the cover between open and closed positions. The coupler is adhered to the furniture member.

In an alternate version, the present invention provides a method for providing a cover of an opening in a substantially flat first surface of a planar member. The method comprises forming an opening in the planar member, providing a flat cover member and mounting the cover member to the first surface of the planar member. A mounting coupler may be provided to mount the cover coupler.

The cover member has first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge, the portion of the first surface of the cover member adjacent the lateral edge being a peripheral surface. When mounted, at least a portion of the first surface of the cover member is facing the opening and substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first surface of the planar member.

The flat cover member is provided by extruding the cover member. The cover coupler may be integrally formed with and extruded from a portion of the cover member.

In another version, the present invention provides a method for installing a cover for an opening in a substantially flat first surface of a planar member. The method comprises mounting a mounting coupler to the first surface of the planar member adjacent the opening, linking the mounting coupler to a cover coupler attached to a cover member, and rotating the cover member between a closed position, wherein the cover member is adjacent and substantially blocking view of the opening, and an open position, wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the planar member and the opening can be accessed.

The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. In the description that follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration, and not limitation, expected versions of the invention. Such versions of the inventions do not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention, and reference should therefore be made to the claims herein for interpreting the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the grommet cover assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grommet cover assembly of FIG. 1 closed over a grommet and several wires;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the grommet cover assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a grommet cover assembly taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a grommet cover assembly taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2, albeit without support legs;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a grommet cover assembly for hiding multiple grommets where the cover is in an open, accessing position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a grommet cover assembly for hiding multiple grommets having multiple hinges;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a hinged grommet cover assembly including a circular cover

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a grommet cover assembly consistent with another inventive embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a grommet cover assembly consistent with another inventive embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a portion of a grommet cover assembly;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate version of a circular grommet cover shown as a rotatable mounted cover;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a grommet cover assembly where the grommet cover assembly is in a closed position; and

FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12, albeit where the grommet cover assembly is in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the several views, and more specifically, referring to FIGS. 1-4, an exemplary embodiment of one grommet cover assembly 10 that is consistent with at least some inventive aspects is illustrated.

The grommet cover assembly 10 is intended for installation on the surface of a planar member such as a furniture surface or a wall surface. For purposes of brevity, the present disclosure refers to a planar member 12 as a table or desktop member.

As seen in FIGS. 1-4, a first embodiment of the grommet cover assembly 10 of the present invention is shown. In this version the grommet cover assembly comprises a mounting coupler 16 and a cover 18. Cover 18 includes a flat cover member 20, a cover coupler 22 and first and second support feet members 24. Cover member 20 includes a rectilinear flat and rigid member that includes oppositely facing and substantially parallel front and rear edges 11 and 13, respectively, first and second substantially parallel and oppositely facing lateral edges 15 and 17, respectively, and top and bottom or under surfaces 19 and 21, respectively.

Coupler 22 includes a female hinge member that is substantially C-shaped in cross-section (see FIG. 4) and includes, generally, first and second arm members 31 and 33 that extend generally downwardly from undersurface 21 adjacent rear edge 13 to form a hinge channel 45 that opens away from undersurface 21. In at least some inventive embodiments, cover 18 is extruded and member 20 and coupler 22 are integrally formed.

Referring still to FIGS. 14, foot members 24 are short members that extend from undersurface 21 and substantially perpendicularly therefrom to distal ends. A separate foot member 24 is provided adjacent each front edge corner of member 20. Foot members 24 are dimensioned so that they support cover member 20 in a substantially horizontal orientation when coupler 22 is mounted to coupler 16 and member 20 is in a closed position. While foot members 24 may be integrally formed with member 20, in some embodiments members 24 may be separate rubber or plastic members that mechanically or adhesively attach to undersurface 21.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, coupler 16 includes a flat base member 47, a cylindrical male hinge member 49 and end stop members 51 and 53. Base member 47 is a rigid flat and elongated member that has oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces (not labeled) and front and rear edges (not labeled). Hinge member 49 is mounted to base member 47 along the rear edge thereof, is raised slightly above the top surface thereof and extends substantially along the entire length thereof. Member 49 is circular in cross-section and, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, is dimensioned to be matingly received within channel 45 formed by female hinge coupler 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, end stop members 51 and 53 are formed at opposite ends of male hinge member 49 and extend radially outward to a greater extent than the member 49 structure. As the label implies, stop members 51 and 53 operate to limit lateral movement of the female hinge coupler 22 after installation. In at least some embodiments coupler 16 is molded into its integral shape. In other embodiments the base and cylindrical members 47 and 49 may be extruded and stop members 51 and 52 may be added on mechanically (e.g., screws) or adhesively in some fashion.

Referring to FIG. 4, to install cover 18, coupler 16 is secured to the top surface of member 12 with base member 47 adjacent an opening 14 to be optionally covered by cover 18. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, screws 32 may be used to secure base member 47 to member 12. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4A, an adhesive strip 57 may be used to secure member 47 to member 12. Next, female hinge coupler channel 45 (see FIG. 4) is aligned with member 49 and pressed there against so that arm members 31 and 33 flex outward and cylindrical member 49 is received in the channel 45.

In use, cover member 20 can be rotated about a hinge pivot axis 29 between an open position shown in FIG. 1 and a closed position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. When in the closed position cover member 20 is supported by coupler 16 and foot members 24 adjacent and parallel to the top surface of top member 12 and spaced apart therefrom so that member 12 blocks the view of opening 14 while still providing a cable passing gap 60 (see FIG. 4). When member 20 is in the open position, large cable plugs and the like can be passed through opening 14.

Referring again to FIG. 4, in at least some embodiments hinge leg members 32 and 33 have relatively short length dimensions. Here, the leg lengths are sufficient to form a channel 45 that is capable of holding cylindrical member 49 during normal cover opening and closing activity but are short enough that, if a large force is applied to cover member 20, the legs 32 and 33 will allow coupler 22 to detach from member 49. For instance, with cover 20 closed as shown in FIG. 4, if front edge 11 is hit by a book or the like sliding along the top surface of member 12, leg 31 will flex slightly and cover member 20 detaches from member 49 so that hinge couplers 22 and 16 will not be damaged.

Referring to FIG. 5, a second exemplary cover assembly 10 a is shown. In FIG. 5, components that are similar to components described above with respect to FIGS. 14 are labeled with the same number followed by a “a”. For instance, where numeral 20 is used to refer to a cover member in FIGS. 1-4, label “20 a” is used to refer to a similar cover member in FIG. 5, albeit having different relative length and width dimensions. While similar components are labeled in FIG. 5, not all of the components or their functions are described again in detail in the interest of simplifying this explanation.

In FIG. 5, cover member 20 a is longer between lateral edges than is cover 20 in FIGS. 1-4 so that cover member 20 a can be used to cover two table top openings collectively identified by number 14 a. Here, a single hinge assembly 16 a, 22 a is provided that has a length dimension that is less than the length dimension between lateral cover member edges and the hinge assembly is juxtaposed centrally with respect to the undersurface of top member 20 a adjacent a rear edge. Thus, in this case, although not illustrated, cables passing up through openings 14 a may extend out from below cover member 20 a below any of the front edge, the lateral edges and/or the rear edge (e.g., to either side of the hinge assembly 16 a, 22 a).

Referring to FIG. 6, a third cover embodiment 10 b is illustrated where components that are similar to the components of the FIGS. 1-4 embodiment 10 are labeled with the same number followed by a “b”. Here, cover member 20 b is even wider than cover member 20 a so that the cover member 20 b can cover three adjacent circular openings (collectively identified by numeral 14 b). In addition, in this embodiment, two separate hinge assemblies 16 b, 22 b are provided adjacent a rear edge of member 20 b and along an undersurface. In this case, the two hinge assemblies are separated by a gap and are spaced apart from lateral edges of member 20 b so that cables may pass below the rear edge if desired.

Referring to FIG. 7, according to fourth embodiment 10 c, a cover member 20 c may be circular. The cover member 20 c may also be oval, triangular, square and polygonal in shape. Regardless of shape, the cover member 20 c is mounted to the mounting coupler 16 c in the same manner as a rectangular cover member 20 (see FIG. 1) described above.

Referring to FIG. 8, a fifth exemplary embodiment 10 d is illustrated where components that are similar to the components described above with respect to FIGS. 14 are labeled with the same number followed by a “d”. In this version a cover member 20 d is circular and includes a plurality of ribs or pins 34 positioned along the peripheral edge of the inner surface of the cover member 20 d. The ribs 34 are spaced equidistantly along the edge of the cover member 20 d, and protrude downwardly from the cover 20 d. In this version, the mounting couplers 16 d are mounted (e.g., via undersurface screws or the like) to the desktop 14 around and adjacent to at least one opening 14 in the desktop 12. The mounting couplers 16 d comprise protruding legs with channel forming recesses 36 corresponding to the ribs 34 on the cover member 20 d. In use, the ribs 34 securely engage with the corresponding recesses 36 defined on the mounting couplers 16 d, thus securing the cover 20 d to the mounting couplers 16 d over the opening 14.

Referring to FIG. 9, a sixth embodiment is illustrated where components that are similar to the components described above with respect to other embodiments are labeled with the same number followed by an “e”. Here, the coupling subassembly (e.g., 34 e; 16 e) is similar to the coupling assembly described above with respect to FIG. 8 and the main difference is that the cover member 20 e is square.

Referring to FIG. 10, a portion of a seventh embodiment 10 f is illustrated where similar components are labeled with numbers used above to describe other embodiments followed by an “f”. Here, a surface mounted coupler includes a C-shaped flat member 42 that includes oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces and mounting-couplers 16 f that extend-upward from the top surface to link to couplers (e.g., see 34 in FIG. 8) on the undersurface of a cover member (not illustrated). In at least some embodiments adhesive is applied to the undersurface of member 42 for securing member 42 to member 12 f about opening 14 f.

Referring to FIG. 11, an eighth embodiment 10 g is illustrated where a round cover member 20 g is mounted via a pin type mounting coupler 16 g to member 12 g for rotation between a closed position over an opening 14 g and an open position to the side of opening 14 g. In this case, coupler 16 g may include a threaded shaft that extends through member 12 to receive a mounting nut or other mechanical fastener below member 12. In this version, support legs akin to legs 24 in FIG. 1 may or may not be used.

As seen in FIG. 12, a cover member 20 may be secured in the closed position over cables 30 via a detent feature 40. The detent feature can be any detent that provides physical resistance to movement of the cover member 20 from a closed position. In the illustrated version the detent feature 40 includes a rib or protrusion member 40 that extends from the male hinge member that forms part of coupler 16 and a complimentary recess or opening 50 formed in the internal surface of the female hinge member that forms part of coupler 22. Here, when the cover member 20 is in the closed position (see FIG. 12), rib member 40 registers with and is received within opening 50 and operates to restrain cover movement against the force of a cord or the like that may push up on the undersurface of cover 20. Here, it is contemplated that coupler 22 may be somewhat flexible so that during rotation into the open position, the arms of the female hinge position can flex outward to accommodate the rib.

In addition to forming opening 50, the internal surface of the female hinge portion may also form a second opening 52 positioned so that when the cover member 20 is in the open position (see FIG. 13), the rib member 40 registers with and is received within the second opening 52 to maintain the cover in the open position unless affirmatively moved.

The mounting coupler 16, cover member 20 and cover coupler 22, regardless of shape, design or configuration, may be manufactured using either an extrusion process or molding techniques. For instance, referring again to FIG. 4, an extrusion process may be used to form cover member 20 as an integral component including the rectilinear cover as well as coupler 22. The extrusion process may also be used to form the cover assembly of FIG. 6 where the separate coupler sections 22 b are formed by machining off sections of the extruded coupler.

The grommet cover assembly 10 may be made from any material suitable for substantially blocking the view of at least one opening 14, including but not limited to plastic and/or metal.

According to another aspect, an inventive method includes forming an opening in a table or desk top member and mounting an cover member to the top member and over the opening so that the cover member is spaced apart from the top member and is substantially parallel to the top member. Here, in at least some cases the cover member will have dimensions that are larger than the opening. For instance, in at lease some cases the cover member may extend over one-quarter inch or more portions of the top member adjacent the opening edge. In some cases the cover member is extruded. In some cases the step of mounting includes adhering while in other cases it includes mechanical fastening. In some cases mounting includes hingedly fastening. In some cases the cover to top member gap is between one-eighth of an inch and one inch.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be appreciated that the invention could be used in a variety of other embodiments.

Thus, the principles of the present invention can be applied in a variety of other ways apart from those specifically noted herein and/or depicted in the drawings. Still other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the claims (rather than just the preferred embodiments) should be reviewed in order to understand the full scope of the invention. 

1. An assembly for use with a planar member having a first surface and forming at least a first opening in the first surface where a portion of the first surface adjacent the at least a first opening is a surrounding surface, the assembly for selectively substantially blocking view of the opening, the assembly comprising: a mounting coupler mounted to the first surface of the planar member proximate the first opening; and a cover including a flat cover member and a cover coupler, the cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge wherein a portion of the first surface proximate the lateral edge is a peripheral surface, the cover coupler extending from the peripheral surface and linkable to the mounting coupler to support the cover member adjacent the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the planar member; wherein, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the peripheral surface is spaced apart from and faces the surrounding surface.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the peripheral surface along the entire lateral edge of the cover member is spaced apart from and faces the surrounding surface.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting coupler includes at least a first hinge member and the cover coupler includes at least a second hinge member linkable to the first hinge member wherein, when the hinge members are linked, the cover member is rotatable about a hinge axis between a closed position wherein the cover member is adjacent and substantially blocking view of the opening and an open position wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the planar member and the opening can be accessed.
 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the second hinge member is releasable from the first hinge member.
 5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first hinge member includes a first retainer feature and the second hinge member includes a second retainer feature and wherein, when the cover member is in the open position, the first and second retainer features cooperate to retain the cover member in the open position.
 6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the first retainer feature is one of a rib and a recess and wherein the second retainer feature is the other of a rib and a recess.
 7. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the mounting coupler includes at least two first hinge members and the cover coupler includes at least two second hinge members that cooperate with the two first hinge members to facilitate rotation of the cover member between the open and closed positions.
 8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the two first hinge members are separated by a space and wherein the two second hinge members are separated by a space.
 9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the lateral edge includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends between first and second straight edge ends, the two second hinge members extend from the peripheral surface adjacent the first straight edge and wherein the two second hinge members are spaced away from the first and second straight end edges.
 10. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the lateral edge includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends between first and second straight edge ends, the second hinge member extends from the peripheral surface adjacent the first straight edge and the second hinge member is spaced away from the first and second straight end edges.
 11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting coupler is mounted to the first surface of the planar member via at least one of adhesive and screws.
 12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the planar member is one of a furniture top member and a wall member.
 13. The assembly of claim 1 further including at least a first leg member that extends from the peripheral surface of the cover member to a distal end, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the distal end contacting the surrounding surface adjacent the opening.
 14. The assembly of claim 13 further including at least a second leg member that extends from the peripheral surface of the cover member to a distal end, the second leg member spaced apart from the first leg member, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the distal end of the second leg member contacting the surrounding surface adjacent the opening.
 15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover member is one of square, rectangular, circular, oval, triangular and polygonal.
 16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover coupler is releasable from the mounting coupler.
 17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one eighth of an inch and one inch.
 18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one quarter of an inch and one half of an inch.
 19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes at least one sixteenth of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.
 20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes at least one quarter of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.
 21. The assembly of claim 1 for use in substantially blocking view of at least a second opening in the planar member that is proximate the first opening wherein the surrounding surface includes the portion of the first surface of the planar member that surrounds the first and second openings.
 22. An assembly for use with a furniture member having a first substantially flat surface and forming at least a first opening in the first surface where a portion of the first surface adjacent the at least a first opening is a surrounding surface, the assembly for selectively substantially blocking view of the opening, the assembly comprising: a mounting coupler mounted to the first surface of the furniture member proximate the first opening; and a cover including a flat cover member and a cover coupler, the cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge wherein a portion of the first surface proximate the lateral edge is a peripheral surface, the cover coupler extending from the peripheral surface and linkable to the mounting coupler to support the cover member adjacent the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the planar member; wherein, when the cover member is adjacent the opening, at least a portion of the peripheral surface faces the surrounding surface.
 23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein when the cover member is adjacent the opening, the peripheral surface faces and is spaced apart from the surrounding surface thereby forming a space for cables to pass between the first surface of the cover member and the first surface of the furniture member.
 24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one eighth of an inch and one inch and wherein the portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes at least one sixteenth of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.
 25. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the space between the peripheral surface and the surrounding surface is between one fourth of an inch and one half of an inch and wherein the portion of the peripheral surface that faces the surrounding surface includes at least one quarter of an inch of the first surface adjacent the lateral edge.
 26. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the mounting and cover couplers include complimentary first and second hinge members.
 27. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the mounting and cover couplers are complimentary first and second hinge members, respectively, that facilitate rotation of the cover member between a closed position wherein the cover member is adjacent the first surface of the furniture member and an open position in which the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the furniture member and the opening is accessible.
 28. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the lateral edge includes at least a first straight edge portion that extends and has a straight length dimension between first and second ends, the second hinge member has a length dimension that is shorter than the straight length dimension and the second hinge member extends along a portion of the straight edge portion and is spaced apart from each of the first and second ends of the straight edge portion.
 29. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the furniture member is a table top member and the opening is a passageway through the top member.
 30. A cover assembly for use with a furniture member having a first substantially flat surface and forming at least a first opening in the first surface where a portion of the first surface adjacent the at least a first opening is a surrounding surface, the cover assembly comprising: a flat cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge; and a coupler linked to and extending from the first surface of the cover member and linkable to the first surface of the furniture member to support the cover member over the opening and substantially parallel to the first surface of the furniture member with the cover assembly located completely outside the opening.
 31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the coupler is adhered to the first surface of the furniture member.
 32. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the coupler offsets the first surface of the cover member from the first surface of the furniture member so that a space exists between the first surface of the cover member and the first surface of the furniture member.
 33. The assembly of claim 30 wherein at least a portion of the first surface of the furniture member adjacent the opening is a surrounding surface and a portion of the first surface of the cover member adjacent the lateral edge is a peripheral surface and, wherein, when the cover member is adjacent the first surface of the planar member, the peripheral surface faces the surrounding surface.
 34. The assembly of claim 30 further comprising a mounting coupler linkable to the first surface of the furniture member, wherein the cover coupler extends from the first surface of the cover member and links to the mounting coupler.
 35. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the mounting and cover couplers include complimentary first and second hinge members that facilitate rotation of the cover member between a closed position adjacent the opening and an open position wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the furniture member and the opening is accessible.
 36. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the coupler is adhered to the first surface of the furniture member.
 37. A method for providing a cover for an opening in a substantially flat first surface of a planar member, the method comprising the steps of: forming an opening in the first surface of the planar member wherein the portion of the first surface of the planar member surrounding the opening is a surrounding portion; providing a flat cover member, the cover member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a lateral edge, the portion of the first surface of the cover member adjacent the lateral edge being a peripheral surface; and mounting the cover member to the first surface of the planar member with at least a portion of the first surface of the cover member facing the opening and substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first surface of the planar member.
 38. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of providing a flat cover member includes extruding the cover member.
 39. The method of claim 38 wherein the steps of providing a flat cover member and mounting the cover member include extruding a cover member and a cover coupler member integrally formed with and extending from a portion of the peripheral surface of the cover member and mounting the cover coupler member to the first surface of the planar member.
 40. The method of claim 39 wherein the step of mounting the cover coupler includes providing a mounting coupler, mounting the mounting coupler to the first surface of the planar member and linking the cover coupler to the mounting coupler.
 41. The method of claim 40 wherein the cover coupler and the mounting coupler include a cover hinge member and a mounting hinge member and the step of extruding the cover member and the cover coupler includes extruding the cover coupler adjacent an edge of the cover member where the cover coupler extends between first and second ends
 42. The method of claim 41 wherein the method further includes the steps of, after extruding the cover member and the cover coupler, removing at least a portion of the cover hinge member.
 43. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of removing at least a portion of the cover hinge member includes removing portions of the cover hinge member at each of the first and second ends of the cover coupler.
 44. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of removing at least a portion of the cover hinge member further includes removing a central portion of the cover hinge member, thereby creating first and second spaced apart cover hinge members, and wherein the step of providing a mounting hinge member includes providing first and second mounting hinge members; and wherein the step of linking the cover coupler to the mounting coupler includes linking the first and second cover hinge members to the first and second mounting hinge members, respectively.
 45. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of mounting the cover member to the first surface of the planar member so that the first surface of the cover member is spaced apart from the first surface of the planar member includes mounting the cover so that the first surface of the cover member is spaced from the first surface of the planar member by one eighth of an inch to one inch.
 46. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of providing a mounting coupler includes molding the mounting coupler.
 47. A method of installing a cover for an opening in a substantially flat first surface of a planar member, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a mounting coupler to the first surface of the planar member adjacent the opening; linking the mounting coupler to a cover coupler attached to a cover member; and rotating the cover member between a closed position, wherein the cover member is adjacent and substantially blocking view of the opening, and an open position, wherein the cover member is angled with respect to the first surface of the planar member and the opening can be accessed.
 48. The method of claim 47 wherein the cover coupler and the mounting coupler include a cover hinge member and a mounting hinge member. 